THERE’S A CELEBRATION A BREWING!

The beginning of the world’s joys came when God sent His Son to be born in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Lu 2:13-14

Could you imagine the celebration by the shepherds the night when Jesus was born? They were able to see the Messiah! They may have held His hand. They may have picked Him up and made those goo goo eyes that people do. I don’t know what they did when they saw Jesus but I do know what the did after they saw Him. Luke 2:17 says, “And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”

That scripture says they made known… not just in their household. Not just in their neighborhood. Not just in their town. Scripture says, “…they made it known abroad…” That means everywhere they went they proclaimed the Good News!

Friend, who is the last person you told about Jesus? When is the last time you share what Jesus did for you? When will you be like those shepherds and celebrate when Jesus came to you by telling others? No better day than today!

CAN I GET A WITNESS?

No doctrine of the Christian religion is worth preserving which cannot be verified in daily life. –Watson

We have three different witnesses upon this planet to guide one to salvation;

One is God’s creation- “…I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40

            While God’s creation points us to the creator, that is all it can do. It cannot rebuke. It cannot correct. It cannot save. But, if a lost man looks at creation and says “Where is thy God?” It shows the depth of man’s depravity.

One is God’s people- “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” Acts 5:20

            While the crowning of God’s creation is man, man cannot save anyone. We can rebuke, correct, and point lost man to the Saviour but God gives the increase.

One is God’s Word- “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39

            Friend, the greatest witness we could ever have is the Word of God. It tells us where we came from, where we are going, and what to do about it. You ask, “Where’s that?” Well friend, according to the Word of God we were all created in His image; perfect, wholly, and sinless. Yet, because of man’s own choice, sin entered in the world. The only cure for this sin was the Lord to send His only begotten Son- Jesus to redeem us from our sin.

             Have you seen His creation? Have you heard His people cry out the Good News of the Gospel? Have you read His Word? Have you been saved? If not- why not? If so- PRAISE YE THE LORD! Can I get a witness?

IT BITES WHEN YOU LOSE CONNECTION!

Broken relationships hurt the most when it’s someone you love.

But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. John 21:4

            In John 21, we see where Jesus comes to the disciples after His resurrection. They had been fishing all night but to no avail. He was standing on the shore and said, cast your nets on the other side. Now, they didn’t know it was Jesus but yet they did what the “man” said. It was only after they pulled up a multitude of fish that Peter said, “It is the Lord.” They had lost touch of Who they had spent three and a half years with. They didn’t know His voice, His physique, or His mannerisms. How could it be?

            Even Mary Magdalene in John 20, had a face to face with Jesus after His resurrection and she didn’t know who He was. She saw Him up close and personal. He talked with her face to face but yet she didn’t even know the man that had once healed her of seven devils. How can it be?

            That is exactly what Jesus had to say about the church at Laodicea; “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16

When we take the Lord for granted, forgetting what He has done for us, and we don't share it with others, we lose the connection with our Saviour we once had!

            How is your walk with the Lord? Have you lost connection? Have you a broken relationship? Have you ever had one? Repent and turn to the One who has given everything that you might have life and have it more abundant!

WHY SHOULD WE WORSHIP GOD?

He who neglects worship neglects that which separates man from the birds, the animals, the insects, the fishes. -Bradley

Yesterday I had to go into work and I wasn’t sure if I would get back in time for our evening service. So, I asked one of our lay men to speak for me and he was so gracious to help his pastor out. I was able to get back in time for the service but I let him preach anyway. The title of this post and the points in it are all of his points. Here is what he had to say about, “Why should we worship God?

He is Creator: O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. Psalm 95:6

He is Redeemer: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:20

He is King: These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. Revelation 17:14

Three great reasons we ought to worship our Saviour! Now, what excuse will you give when you stand before Him?

MAKING THE COUNTRY BETTER

The things that are wrong with the country today are the sum total of all the things that are wrong with us as individuals. --Charles W. Tobey

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34

You have heard it before; “So goes the home, so goes the country.” We often wonder why homes are falling apart. It’s really simple, with a country founded upon a Judeo Christian foundation, Satan hates it. So he attacks the home because he knows if he can destroy the family institution the nation itself will eventually fall.

            This is just one of many reasons you and I should GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH THIS MORNING—to help save our nation!

WE NEED SOME MEN!

God ordained men to lead the home, so men, LEAD!

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Ephesians 5:22-23

What should we be led by, culture or the Word of God? If we follow culture then we will not recognize the Word of God’s counsel on the home. I mean really, it’s not popular today to say a man is the head of it. Much less is the counsel the man is the head of the wife. But can I share with you a simple truth, when men lead their homes in the way God has ordained, the wife is happier, the children are better, and society improves!

Men, lead your home in the way God wants you to; loving her as Christ loved the Church, serve her with your life, and most importantly forgive your wife when she doesn’t live up to your expectations, isn’t that what Jesus does for us?

NOT ONLY DID HE LIVE, BUT HE STILL DOES!

There was a Man who dwelt in the East centuries ago and now I cannot look at a sheep or a sparrow, a lily or a cornfield, a raven or a sunset, a vineyard or a mountain without thinking of Him. -Chesterton

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:18

The pinnacle of all Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If one does not believe He arose the third day, they are still dead in their sins and trespasses! If He did not conquer death, hell, and the grave, we are of men most miserable and we will remain that way! Helpless, hopeless, and doomed forever in a devils hell!

Do you believe? If not, why not?

I WAS SINKING IN SIN, BUT JESUS LIFTED ME OUT!

If you attempt to cover sin, before you know it, you will be drowning in it!

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. Psalm 38:4

David cried out, His sin was too much for Him. So much so that He was sinking in them. He could not hold up the sheets to cover His sin no more because they are too heavy for him. The weight of his sin was causing him to drowning in them! So He says in Psalm 38:18, “For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.”

It’s the same with you and I friend! If we want peace, we must go to the Prince of Peace! If we want a clear conscience so we might get a good night’s sleep, we must go to Jesus! If we want to be lifted with Joy, we must go to Jesus! If we don’t want to drown, we must confess our sin! When we do, He will lift us out of them!

WHAT DO YOU HUNGER FOR?

Hunger for the right things will satisfy the soul! 

For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Psalm 107:9

So many people go about life trying to fill their life with things rather filling their life with Jesus Christ. While they continually try to fill their empty heart with empty promises of pleasure, success, fame and fortune, the satisfied Christian rest in knowing they are saved and on the way to Heaven!

I am remind of Matthew 5:6 and the promise it contains; “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

Want to be filled? “Hunger and thirst after the things of God!

YOU’RE ON A JOURNEY

Take a turn without God and it will be the worst mistake you will ever make!

 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. Luke 15:13

There is a poem I heard about several years ago written by Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken.” Within the poem the traveler comes to a fork in the road and he has to make a decision to make. Will he go left or will he go right?

Find out: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken

Friend, as you and I travel this road called life; we should not make any decisions on which way to go without the Lord guiding us! We should let the Lord have His way. When we don’t we find ourselves alone, broken, and eating the scraps from the world’s leftovers!

Will you let Him guide you? Or will you grinding husk with your teeth like the Prodigal Son?

YOU CAN COME!

There is an invitation sent with your name on it. Will you leave it unopened or will you open it and respond?

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17

I enjoy getting invitations; wedding invitations, party invitations, people inviting me to be their friend on Facebook, invitations to go to supper, etc. I don’t care what it is, I just like invitations! However, the greatest of all invitations was when The Lord Jesus offered me, invited me, commanded me to be saved. It was the greatest joy to receive that invitation but if I had only received and not acted upon it, I would still be lost, dead in my sin and trespasses.

Friend, Jesus has extended an invitation to you. He has promised to save you if you will repent, confess your sins, and trust Him with your life. No matter how rich or poor you are, how wicked or sanctified you are, how famous or unnoticed you might be, Jesus shed His blood on the Cross of Calvary so you can be saved. Will you come to Him? You can, will you?

DON’T GIVE UP; GET UP, AND GO ON!

There is no great future for any people whose faith has burned out. –Jones

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

When Job found himself on hard times he didn’t give up; he got up, and went on. When Paul found himself in adversity, he didn’t give up; he got up, and went on. When Jesus faced the Cross he didn’t give up; He got up on the Cross, and He went on to conquer death, hell, and the grave for you and me.

Paul, a man very familiar with suffering, challenges us with his witness, “I press toward the mark…” So, when Satan attacks you don’t give up; get, up, and go on. When someone you hold dear chooses flesh over the Father, don’t give up; get up, and go on. When it seems all is lost and you’re all alone, don’t give up; get up, and go on.

BETTER THAN A HANDSHAKE!

God never made a promise that was too good to be true. -D.L. Moody

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Hebrews 10:23

When I was growing up a man’s handshake was better than any written contract. Times have changed and the handshake means nothing anymore. As far as that goes, a written contract has more loop holes in them than a kitchen colander.

But praise be to God for His promises though! His Word is better than gold! While gold loses its value, God’s Word hasn’t lost anything! It is still as true and relevant today as it was two thousand years ago! His promises are better than anyone’s handshake! So when He said, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”, you can do better than taking it to the bank, you can take it all the way to Heaven!

I AM THANKFUL!

He who sincerely praises God will soon discover within his soul an inclination to praise goodness in his fellow man. --Oliver G. Wilson

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

There are so many things we could thank the Lord for on this Thanksgiving Day in America. For those of our friends not in the United States, this list applies to you as well. For the sake of time I will narrow it down to three:

We ought to be thankful for His Word. Psalm 119:14, I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

We ought to be thankful for His Work. Psalm 145:10, All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.

We ought to be thankful for His Will. Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

What will you give thanks for on this Thanksgiving Day 2018?

PRAISE THE LORD—FOREVER

Praise is the rehearsal of our eternal song.  -Spurgeon

 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Psalm 46:1-2

What a privilege we have to praise the Lord for all of His benefits. Oh, have you forgotten the benefits of the Lord? Let me name a few: the air we breathe, the sun that shines, the rain that falls, the roof above your head, the job He has given, your health, His faithfulness, His mercy, His grace, His missions, His salvation, His righteousness, His provision, His longsuffering, His work, His way, His servants, His selflessness,…. Oh, we could go on but you probably don’t have enough time. We have something to praise Him for everyday of the year!

I SURE AM THIRSTY!

A thirst for the things of God will lead to a satisfied soul!

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4

Have you ever been thirsty for a drink of water? I mean really thirsty? So thirsty you would do or pay about anything for a bottle of water? That is the type of thirst we ought to have for the things of God. Look at the thirst David had for the things of God, He said, “I desired”, “I seek after”, “I may dwell”, “to behold”, and “to enquire”.

Oh that we would have that desire of the things of God!

HE TOOTS HIS OWN HORN

It is better to toot someone else’s horn rather than to toot your own.

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. Proverbs 27:2

So often we hear of people tooting their own horn, patting themselves on the back, talking highly of themselves, or exalting themselves above others. God isn’t please with this behavior. In fact, “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

Child of God, it’s time for you to quit tooting your own horn. Do what God wants you to do and let others praise you when needed. Trust God to honor you for the work you do for Him. When we do, He will exalt you to plains you thought you would never reach!

A DAY OF THANKSGIVING!

There is no better way to say thank you to the Lord than going to church to worship Him!

 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. Psalm 95:2

When Grandma use to make those cat head biscuits you said, “Thank you!” When Mama used to make your favorite meal you said, “Thank you!” When Dad brought home a sweet treat you said, “Thank you!” When Jesus gives us air to breathe, sweet tea to drink, a roof over our head, shoes on our feet, warmth in the winter and a cool breeze in the summer, a car to drive, and much, much more…shouldn’t we GET UP, GET READY, and GO THANK HIM? ABSOLUTELY! So go to church this morning and thank Him! Praise Him! Worship Him! Give Him the honor He is due!

PEOPLE CHANGE- JESUS DOESN’T

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8

As I sit back and think over this awesome life God has given me, I stand amazed at how faithful my Saviour is. He was there when I needed someone to save me. He has been there for me every step of the way when I have needed someone to steer me. I have no doubt that He will be there to safely deliver me Home when it’s my time to go.

Are you in need of a friend like Jesus? One that will save you, One that will steer you in the paths you need to go, One that will safely deliver you to the Heavenly Father? If so, call out to Him! He is listening for your call!

THE DEVILS HAS IT FAKES

Where God hath a temple, the Devil will have a chapel. –Burton

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8

            Just as we have truth the Devil has his lies. As we have Jesus, He has his Antichrist. As he has his “church” we have the true and living Church, our Sanctuary. As we have God’s Word, the devil has a word of deception and hopelessness. It brings me to a very important question, “What and/or who are you listening to? The devil has his fakes. I am reminded of this verse this morning, Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”